Rate Cut Means Savings for SEC Members

SOUTHSIDE – Southside Electric Cooperative members, like consumers across America, have dealt with higher prices over the last year for everything from groceries to gas for the car to utility services. Inflated costs have made it difficult for many people to provide for their families.

Some good news is on the way for SEC members, who will soon see their rates drop following a decrease in the charges the Cooperative pays for wholesale power. For SEC members using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month, the decrease will mean a savings of about $8 a month. Exactly how much will depend on members’ use.

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, the primary wholesale power provider for SEC and other retail distribution cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, will lower its wholesale rate by $8 per megawatt hour, effective Aug. 1. 

Since the rates SEC charges its members across the 18-county service area are directly tied to what it pays for wholesale electricity, members will see a decrease in their charges starting with the August billing cycle.

“During a time when there is so much economic uncertainty, your team at SEC remains committed to helping our communities face these challenges,” said SEC President and CEO Jason Loehr, who serves on the ODEC board, which approved the rate decrease. “Last year, when power prices skyrocketed, we committed to working tirelessly until we were able to lower costs for our valued members. The power of the cooperative business model has been on display as the ODEC team combined with the leadership of ODEC’s 11 member cooperatives used its cooperative muscle to effectively navigate these volatile times. I am pleased we can share this good news and hope that lower electric bills will help provide some relief to the financial strain our Southside Virginia communities are feeling.”

Dr. Earl Currin, Jr., vice chair of the SEC Board of Directors and an ODEC board member, added that approximately 60% of SEC members’ electric bills is used to recover wholesale power costs. 

“We are in a position to lower electric bills thanks to the team at ODEC, which has done a remarkable job managing power supply through this period of volatility,” Currin said.

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, wholesale generation and transmission electric cooperative supplying power to 11 retail distribution cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware that serve 1.5 million residents. For more information, please visit: www.odec.com.

Founded by local communities in 1937, Southside Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution company with more than 58,500 active services across 18 counties in central and southern Virginia. Headquartered in Crewe, SEC has district offices in Altavista, Crewe, Dinwiddie and Powhatan. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.